Hundreds Rally in San Francisco Against U.S.-Israel Strikes on Iran
Protesters gathered Saturday outside the federal building in San Francisco to denounce U.S. and Israeli strikes on Iran, rallying less than a day after the military action was announced. From the plaza, demonstrators marched into downtown streets, chanting against war and calling for an end to U.S. involvement in the region. Signs criticized military spending and condemned both major political parties, with some participants voicing opposition to immigration enforcement and others carrying anti-war slogans. The protest came amid heightened tensions between the United States and Iran. President Donald Trump said Saturday that the latest strikes had killed Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, the nation’s supreme leader for nearly 37 years and a long‑time foe of both Israel and the United States — a development that could trigger a major political and regional shift.
Source:The Guardian
March 02, 2026 06:44 UTC
Oil prices rise and stock markets dip as Iran war threatens global economy
Oil prices rose and stock markets came under pressure on Monday after intense US-Israeli strikes on Iran prompted fears of significant global economic disruption. While oil later fell back slightly from its initial highs, Brent remained up by 6% at nearly $78 a barrel. Benchmark European gas prices rose as much as 39% on Monday. Power prices in Europe also rose on the higher gas and oil prices. Some analysts suggested oil prices could exceed $100 a barrel unless flows through the strait of Hormuz were quickly restored.
Source:The Guardian
March 02, 2026 06:32 UTC
Middle East crisis live: Kuwait mistakenly shoots down three US fighter planes, as US says Iran’s ‘reckless’ attacks threaten regional stability
Kuwait air defences mistakenly shot down three US F15 fighter jets flying in Iran-related operations, the US Central Command (Centcom) said earlier today. Share5m ago 12.55 GMT Iran’s president, Masoud Pezeshkian, has appointed Revolutionary Guards general Majid Ebnelreza as acting defence minister after his predecessor was killed in Israeli-US airstrikes. The fourth service member, who was seriously wounded during Iran’s initial attacks, eventually succumbed to their injuries. Share Updated at 12.40 GMT28m ago 12.31 GMT EU officials are meeting today to discuss Iran and the wider regional conflict. The statement says attacks occurred in Bahrain, Iraq (including the Kurdistan Region of Iraq), Jordan, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates.
Source:The Guardian
March 02, 2026 06:30 UTC
Dire Straits for Global Oil Trade Amid Hormuz
Global Oil Trade Faces Uncertainty as Strait of Hormuz Disruptions PersistMarket Reactions and Economic Impacts Amid Strait of Hormuz TensionsMarch 2 (Reuters) - A look at the day ahead in European and global markets from Wayne Cole. Shipping Disruptions and Rising RisksSuddenly, everyone's an expert on crude shipping through the Strait of Hormuz. Marine Traffic shows the red dots of tankers piling up each side of the vital waterway that carries a fifth of the world's seaborne oil trade, a similar amount of liquefied natural gas and apparently a third of its fertiliser. Much of the oil flows to Asia, and particularly China which was the main buyer of Iranian crude. Oil Supply and Price VolatilityOPEC+ did decide to lift crude oil output by 206,000 barrels per day from April, but that's just 0.2% of global oil demand and much of that will still need to be shipped.
Source:The Guardian
March 02, 2026 06:09 UTC
Vernon Kay: ‘I saved my brother from drowning in Portugal’
Kay hosts the BBC quiz show Do You Know Your Place?, where he puts celebrities’ knowledge of the UK to the test. Tess, the girls and I love the south of France, anywhere along the Riviera. It took me everywhere from China to South America, including Santiago, Sao Paulo, Mexico City and Punta del Este on the coast of Uruguay. There’s something about Mexico City especially. The presenter is also a huge fan of Mexico City Getty imagesWe also went to Ayia Napa before it kicked off as a clubbing place.
Source:The Times
March 02, 2026 05:04 UTC
OpenAI agrees to military cooperation with the Pentagon after breaking ties with Anthropic
Following a public dispute between the US Department of Defense and AI company Anthropic, the Pentagon appears to have repositioned itself. This gives the Pentagon access to advanced AI systems, while OpenAI is contractually bound to adhere to certain security principles. The starting point was a conflict between the Pentagon and Anthropic over ethical limits on the use of artificial intelligence in a military context. Both companies are among the leading providers of powerful generative AI models and are striving to establish their technology in government institutions. ConclusionThe agreement between OpenAI and the Pentagon significantly shifts the balance of power in the AI competition for major government customers.
Source:The Guardian
March 02, 2026 05:03 UTC
What is the strait of Hormuz and why is it crucial for oil supplies?
The US-Israeli war on Iran has ignited fears that escalating military aggression in the Middle East could send oil prices soaring, push up prices at the pump and drive a global economic downturn. Within hours of the US-Israeli strikes, Iran’s Revolutionary Guards reportedly warned tankers in the strait of Hormuz that no ship would be allowed to pass through the world’s most critical oil trade route. At least 150 tankers carrying crude, liquified natural gas and oil products had dropped anchor in open waters across the Gulf past the strait on Sunday, Reuters reported. If the halt continues, it could block up to 15m barrels a day of crude oil from reaching their destinations. In a worst-case scenario, experts have said oil market prices could surge from about $67 a barrel on Friday night to $100.
Source:The Guardian
March 02, 2026 02:21 UTC
Outcry grows over ‘clown car’ cabinet but no sign Trump ready for shakeup
Then Team Trump entered the chamber to cheers and applause for Tuesday’s State of the Union address. Democrats gathered on Capitol Hill, however, regarded the people appointed by Donald Trump to his cabinet and other senior positions rather differently. Gabbard’s presence was further criticised when reports emerged that she facilitated a direct phone call between Trump and rank-and-file FBI agents. He is the most unqualified loser to ever hold the office of FBI director. But there is little sign of any members of Team Trump losing their jobs.
Source:The Guardian
March 02, 2026 02:01 UTC
Epstein files: the latest people affected by global fallout
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Source:The Times
March 02, 2026 01:24 UTC
Britain to let US use bases to strike Iran — as it happened
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Source:The Times
March 02, 2026 00:55 UTC
Executives’ mood sours on economy as consumers cut spending
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Source:The Times
March 02, 2026 00:02 UTC
Oil Prices Surge on Middle East Conflict, Global
Oil surges, stocks slide, dollar rallies as conflict grips Middle EastMarket Reactions to Middle East ConflictBy Alun John and Wayne ColeOil and Commodity Prices SpikeLONDON/SYDNEY, March 2 (Reuters) - Oil prices surged, the dollar jumped and shares slid on Monday as military conflict in the Middle East looked set to last for weeks, threatening to upend a global economic recovery and perhaps reignite inflation. Impact on Global Energy SupplyAll eyes were on the Strait of Hormuz, through which around a fifth of the world's seaborne oil trade flows and 20% of its liquefied natural gas. He added, however, that "a global oil price shock is not the intention of the Trump administration ahead of U.S. mid-term elections in November". A prolonged spike in oil prices would risk reigniting inflationary pressures globally, while also acting as a tax on business and consumers that could dampen demand. Currency and Energy InterplayThe dollar's traditional role as a global safe-haven currency had been challenged by erratic U.S. policymaking.
Source:The Guardian
March 01, 2026 23:59 UTC
Trump’s current war on Iran picks up where a longstanding enmity left off
For millions of younger Americans, the sudden explosion of Iran onto the national political stage and consciousness may seem like a bolt from the blue. In the 1980s, Hezbollah, Iran’s then-recently established Lebanese Shia proxy group, began seizing US hostages in Beirut. As some hostages were released, others were taken – and the psychic wound between the US and Iran deepened. 3:20 Why the US and Israel are bombing Iran – videoYet the deep-rooted US fixation with Iran has its mirror image. Two generations later, the spirit of revolution has once again been gripping Iran.
Source:The Guardian
March 01, 2026 23:31 UTC
Breakfast briefing: Safe haven demand to set the tone this week
But first, looking ahead this week, there is a raft of second tier data released locally, including some trade, and more importantly mortgage markets data. In China, data will be relatively light as Beijing insists its news attention is on their next five year plan meetings. The Australian 10 year bond yield starts today at 4.65%, down -2 bps from yesterday. That all means our TWI-5 starts today basically the same as Saturday, still just on 63.4. The bitcoin price starts today at US$66,168 and up +0.7% from this time Saturday.
Source:The Guardian
March 01, 2026 22:51 UTC
OpenAI and Pentagon Forge Deal Amid Anthropic Ban
1 day agoNews SummaryOpenAI has secured a deal with the Pentagon to supply AI technology while adhering to ethical safeguards that prohibit its use for domestic mass surveillance and autonomous weapons. This agreement follows the Trump administration’s decision to ban Anthropic, an AI competitor, over similar ethical disputes. Anthropic, led by CEO Dario Amodei, had refused to allow its AI systems to be used for unrestricted military purposes, leading to a breakdown in negotiations with the Pentagon. OpenAI’s CEO Sam Altman emphasized the importance of maintaining ethical guidelines even as the company collaborates with the military, hoping to set a standard for the industry. The deal is seen as pivotal in balancing national security needs with ethical AI deployment.
Source:The Guardian
March 01, 2026 22:50 UTC